Seized the opportunity in impressive fashion: Kompany has a new Bayern favorite | OneFootball

Bayern Munich’s 15-0 victory over FC Rottach-Egern provided Vincent Kompany with numerous insights. While some established pros failed to capitalize on their opportunities, a 16-year-old offensive talent, of all people, stepped into the spotlight. Bastian Assomo confirmed the strong impression he’d made during training sessions and has likely earned himself a spot in future lineups.

Following the surprising 1-2 loss to SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Kompany fielded a significantly more experienced squad in the second preseason friendly. With Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Minjae Kim, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Tom Bischof, numerous regulars and promising young players took the field. Nevertheless, it was once again the young talents who made the biggest impression.

Felipe Chavez, Maycon Cardozo, and Arijon Ibrahimovic, in particular, brought a breath of fresh air with their enthusiasm for the game. The most notable player, however, was Bastian Assomo, who made impressive use of his limited playing time.

Assomo Justifies Kompany’s Trust

The 16-year-old center forward came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute and needed just four minutes to score his first goal. With great determination, the striker outmaneuvered his opponent, won the ball, and calmly slotted it home to make it 9–0.

Assomo continued to make his presence felt afterward. In the 75th minute, he narrowly missed scoring his second goal, and shortly before the final whistle, he sent another shot over the crossbar. The German-Cameroonian impressed not only with his goal-scoring threat but also with his physical presence and courageous play.

Photo: IMAGO

It had already become apparent during training camp that Kompany thinks highly of the young striker. According to BILD, the Bayern coach was particularly impressed by Assomo’s finishing skills, his agility, and his physicality. During training sessions, the Belgian sought direct interaction with the 16-year-old on several occasions and even personally took on the task of marking the young striker in a practice match.

The young talent’s development also speaks for itself. Last season, Assomo scored twelve goals in twelve appearances for FC Bayern’s U17 and Regionalliga teams. He also added four goals in three games for the German U16 national team. Following his transfer from Hertha BSC in 2025, the forward is slated to play for the reserve team this season—though it appears he has already taken his first steps toward the first team.

Palhinha and Boey miss their chance

Kompany, on the other hand, was likely less satisfied with the performances of João Palhinha and Sacha Boey. Both are among the players whose future at FC Bayern is uncertain and who are looking to prove themselves during preseason to earn a spot on the roster.

Palhinha appeared uncharacteristically prone to mistakes for long stretches of the game. The Portuguese player gave the ball away several times on simple plays and made a number of errant passes; moreover, his impact on the game was limited. Although he scored a goal in the second half, overall the 30-year-old was barely able to showcase his abilities.

Boey, too, remained largely inconspicuous on the right side. Since the play was almost exclusively down the left flank, the Frenchman saw little action on offense and made only a few notable contributions. Given the strong competition and his uncertain future, his performance is unlikely to have done much to strengthen his position on the roster.

For Vincent Kompany, the lopsided friendly result was therefore far more than just a casual formality. While talents like Assomo impressively reinforced their case for further opportunities, some established pros failed to earn important points in the internal competition.